How do you and the ALS Building Emergency Team prepare for emergencies?
We have monthly meetings, making slow but steady progress - after a year of this we'll be in good shape. The other way we prepare is to drill at least quarterly because when there's a real emergency, you default to your level of training.
What has been personally rewarding about working on the Building Emergency Team?
I have been able to take my training home with me; I'm even more safety conscious with my family and better prepared to take care of them. I've added many emergency items to our camping gear so we can live for more than 3 days on our own.
Do you have any advice for other BET Leads or Members on making their emergency team more effective?
Don't try to get everything done at once, space it out so that meetings can be productive and team members can see the improvement. Don't be afraid that you don't know everything or have all the answers, just try to determine action items and work on getting them done over time. A good way to keep members involved is by bringing in experts from around the Lab to address your group on specific topics.
Note: The Lab is hosting Emergency Preparedness Week, starting Monday with a fair and $6 BBQ on the cafeteria lawn, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., a rescue dog demo at noon on Tuesday on the cafeteria lawn, the site-wide annual duck, cover & hold building evacuation drill at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, and a personal preparedness presentation at noon on Thursday in Perseverance Hall.
Today at Berkeley Lab is produced by Public Affairs' Communications Department
